Nigeria’s House of Representatives Calls for Suspension of Petrol Regulatory Chief Amid Fuel Contamination Row

The Nigerian House of Representatives has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, until the conclusion of an investigation into his controversial comments on Dangote Refined Petroleum Products.

The call to suspend Ahmed comes after the House addressed the impasse between Dangote Refinery and the NMDPRA. The impasse emerged following Ahmed’s statement that Dangote Refinery’s petroleum products are inferior, which sparked outrage among Nigerians who accused him of undermining local refineries and promoting the continued importation of fuel.

According to Esosa Iyawe, the lawmaker who moved the motion, the fuel quality has significant implications for engine hardware. He argued that ultra-low sulfur diesel is recommended for all types of companies, power plants, storage tanks, industrial facilities, fleets, and heavy equipment, as high sulfur content in fuels causes damage to engines and contributes to air pollution.

Iyawe also pointed out that sulfur dioxide has serious environmental and health consequences, including damage to the human respiratory system, compromised lung function, and even cancer.

The House Committee on Midstream and Downstream has already commenced an investigation into the dispute between Ahmed and Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of the Dangote Group. The committee has to resolve the crisis between NMDPRA and Dangote Refinery by Monday.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, moved to resolve the crisis on Monday.

The controversy surrounding Ahmed’s comments has sparked a wide range of allegations and counter-allegations between the parties involved.